Resetting mechanisms for meters



May 14, 1963 c. E. BURROUGHS ETAL 3,089,642

RESETTING MECHANISMS FOR METERS Filed Sept. 9, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 InvantoRs Cqrit Ernefi: Burroughs Ivov Bernavd To MA.

v James Mmrkin Kincafiand BY l Lww (l -N9 AttorniVS May 14, 1963 c. E. BURROUGHS ETAL 3,089,542

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RESETTING MECHANISMS FOR METERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 9, 1959 S M6 u omo ow mm & w mm I W; C

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RESETTING MECHANISMS FOR METERS Filed Sept. 9, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 061, 5m i EE! fll l IN \laMTo RS g Qqr f Ernest Burrou hs Ivor Berna r3 To TameS Martin Kimdshn BY OW'MML May 14, 1963 c. E. BURROUGHS ETAL 3,089,642

RESETTING MECHANISMS FOR METERS '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 9, 1959 InvantoRs mprfl EYneSt Burrowahs IVOY Bcl'nfitd Top and.- Iames Martin kmgsland Wow M Ua/u/ Y A dcoranays May 14, 1963 c. E. BURROUGHS ETAL 3,089,642

RESETTING MECHANISMS FOR METERS Filed Sept. 9, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 lnvantoRs CV Evneac Burro ghs Ivor BernavA To wwL Times Mart'm Kingsh nd AttoRn'vjs Bfihdfi 2 i atented May 14, 1963 3,089,642 RESETTENG MECHANISMS FUR METERS Cyril Ernest Burroughs, Winchmore Hill, London, and lvor Bernard Topp and .i'ames Martin Kingsland, Lon don, England, assignors, by mesne assignments, to E5. Smith & Sons (Englanth Ltd, London, Engiand, a corporation of England Fiied Sept. g, 195?, Ser. No. 333,932. Claims priority, appiication Great Britain Sept. 9, 195" 11 Ciaims. (Cl. ZSES -M Z) This invention relates to totalising mechanisms and to meters, for example, telephone call charge meters, incorporating such mechanisms.

According to this invention there is provided a totalis ing mechanism comprising a frame carrying an input element, a continuously-registering totalising indicator permanently connected to the input element to be driven thereby, a second indicator, a clutch through which the second indicator is coupled to the input element to be driven thereby, resetting means including a resetting member which is movable between an inoperative position and a position in which it is operative to reset the second indicator to a datum position, snap action means for actuating abrupt engagement and abrupt disengagement of the clutch, and a manually-operable member for actuating both the snap action means and the resetting member and adapted to actuate snap action disengagement of the clutch before actuating movement of the resetting member into its operative position, and to actuate snap action re-engagement of the clutch after the resetting member has moved to its inoperative position.

It is an object of the invention to provide means to prevent fraudulent manipulation of the resetting mechanism to cause the totalizing indicator to indicate incorrectly or to control its indication.

It is an object of the invention to provide a snap-action clutch in the drive of the resettable indicator with a manual button operable to disengage the clutch before engaging the resetting means and to re-engage the clutch when the resetting means is back in its inoperative position.

One embodiment of the present invention as applied in a call charge indicator will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows an inverted plan view showing the frame members and the electrical components, but with most of the mechanism removed,

FIGURE 2 is a frontal View of the indicator with the dial and the underlying frame plate which affords hearing supports for moving parts of the mechanism removed,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional side elevation in the direction of the arrow A of FIGURE 2 showing those parts of the mechanism between two frame plates only,

FIGURE 4 is a view looking on the rear face of the rear frame plate and shows the re-set bar,

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the clutch mechanism,

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing only the re-setting linkage,

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the indicator viewed in the direction of the arrow A of FIGURE 2, and

FiGURE 8 shows the electrical connections.

The principle of operation of the indicator is as follows. The indicator is connected to a subscribers telephone and when a call is obtained and from the instant at which the receiver at the other end of the line is lifted A.C. signal pulses having a frequency of 50 cycles/sec. are transmitted to the indicator at regular intervals, the interval depending upon the distance over which the telephone call is being made. The pulses are amplified by a tuned circuit comprising condensers 18a, 13b and an inductance 21 (FIGURE 8) contained within the indicator.

The circuit comprises a pre-set capacitor Lia and an inductance 21 connected in series between an input terminal I and a ground terminal E. A further similar pie-set capacitor lid!) is connected between an input terminal I and the junction of the capacitor 13a and inductance 21. The telephone wires are connected to terminals 1 and I and the input pulses appear between these terminals and ground. The pre-set capacitors are adjusted to tune the circuit to 5G cycles/sec. An armature disposed in the magnetic circuit of the inductance makes a movement in response to each pulse which movement is transmitted through a ratchet mechanism and a train of gears to three pointers tit, it, 12 (FIGURE 7), the first of which shown at to indicates single units, representing the cost of the call, on an outer scale on the scale face and can be re-set to zero on the indicator scale 13 after each call, and the second and third of which, it and 12, show the total number of units consumed, the second pointer 11 indicating the single units on the outer scale and the third pointer 12 indicating hundreds of units on an inner scale on the scale face. The 360 outer and inner scales are graduated in a hundred divisions each. Thus the first and second pointers move at the same speed, and the third pointer 12 moves through one division representing a hundred units each time the second pointer 11 moves right round the scale.

The frame of the indicator comprises (FIGURES 1, 3 and 7) a pair of parallel frame plates 14, 15 which are spaced apart by short pillars to and afford bearings for moving parts of the mechanism. Two brackets 17 are riveted to the rear of the rear frame plate lit"; and two condensers is as afoesaid are mounted respectively on brackets i7. F our pillars 1.9 are provided upstanding from the rear of the rear frame plate 15 and have secured to them the laminated core 2% of the inductance 21. The core 2% is of rectangular form, but has a gap in one side, and the coil of the inductance is mounted on the opposite side of the core to the gap. In the gap is disposed the armature 22, which is of laminated construction and is elongated so as substantially to extend across the gap. The armature 22 is mounted on a shaft 23 to pivot in the plane of the core 2%, the shaft being journalled at one end in the rear frame plate 15 and at the other in a non-magnetic bridge piece 2 which straddles the gap and is secured to two of the pillars 19 supporting the core. A watch-type coil spring 25 mounted on the shaft 23 urges the armature to a position slightly displaced angularly from a direct line across the gap, and two adjustable stop screws 26 of insulating material which are supported by the bridge piece 24 limit the angular movement of the armature 22. Also mounted on the shaft 23 and fixed thereto is a balanced lever 27 having on one end thereof a pin 28 which projects through an aperture in the rear frame plate 15. The other end of the pin 2% is engaged in the forked end of a lever 29 (FIGURE 2) pivoted at 3st between the two frame plates lid, 15 and having pivoted thereto midway along its length a pawl 31, the pawl being urged by a coil spring 32 on its pivot axis into contact with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 33 fixed on the inner end of a hollow shaft 34.

Thus a pulse of current through the coil of the inductance 21 produces a rotary movement of the armature 2 into alignment with the magnetic held across the gap, causing a corresponding movement of the pin 28 of the balanced lever 27 which in turn moves the pawl 31 over one tooth of the ratchet wheel 33. The return movcment of the armature 22 under the influence of the fiat coiled spring 25 produces the working stroke of the pawl 31, thus rend er ing the movement to some extent independent of the strength of the electrical pulse received by the inductance.

A second spring pawl 35 mounted on the frame plate 3 15 engages the ratchet teeth to prevent retrograde motion of the ratchet wheel 33.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 5 and 7, the other end of the hollow shaft 34 extends through an aperture centrally of the front frame plate 14 and has the aforesaid second pointer 11 mounted on its front end. Also fixed on the hollow shaft 34 is a pinion 36 which meshes with a spur wheel 37 fixed on a parallel shaft 38. The latter shaft has a pinion 39 fixed thereon which in turn meshes with a spur wheel 40 mounted on a sleeve Alia which sleeve 4th: has its forward end journaled in the front frame plate and surrounds the hollow shaft 34. The aforesaid third pointer 12 is secured thereon. By this means a reduction gear ratio of 100:1 is obtained between the ratchet wheel 33 and the spur wheel 49.

The first of the aforesaid pointers, i.e. the pointer which can be re-set, is mounted on the spindle 41 which extends through the hollow shaft 34 and is journaled in the rear frame plate 15. In order that this pointer shall be capable of being reset to zero Without disturbing the two integrating pointers 11 and 12, it is driven from the ratchet wheel 33 through a clutch 42.

The portion of the spindle 41 (FIGURE 5) between the rear end of the hollow shaft 34 and the rear frame plate has an increased diameter, and freely slidable on this portion is a toothed clutch member 43 having a short projecting boss 4d on its side remote from the ratchet wheel 33, which boss has a circumferential groove having its rear wall engaged by a pair of clutch operating fingers 45a. A short smaller diameter portion 46 of the boss projecting beyond the grooved part affords a location for one end of a short compressing spring 47 the other end of which is seated against flange formed on the spindle adjacent the rear frame plate. The side of the toothed clutch member 43 adjacent the ratchet wheel is provided with three equally-spaced axially projecting pegs, two of which 49 are pointed and the third of which 50 (shown partly broken away) is flat ended and is formed with an axial slot 50a. One end of a radially-extending pin 51 is fixed in a flange 52 adjacent the forward end of the enlarged diameter portion, and the other end of the pin 51 engages in the slot 50a. Thus the toothed clutch member 43 is drivingly engaged with, but axially movable relative to, the spindle 41. The rear face of the ratchet wheel 33 has a synthetic rubber clutch disc 53 secured to it and when the clutch is engaged the pegs 49, 50 are moved into contact with the clutch disc 53 so that the ratchet wheel 33 drives the toothed clutch member 43 the drive being transmitted by the radial pin 51 to the spin dle 41 and thence to the first pointer 10. A small star spring 54 is disposed between the clutch disc 53 and the adjacent flange 52 on the spindle 41 to maintain the axial position of the ratchet wheel. The toothed clutch member 4-3 is in permanent engagement with a pinion 55 having an equal number of teeth which pinion is fixed on a parallel shaft 56, and also fixed on this shaft is a re-setting cam 57.

The other ends 4511 of the clutch operating fingers 45a, which fingers are part of a substantially vi-form leaf spring member, are secured (FIGURES 2 and 3) to two posts 58 mounted on the rear frame plate 15. The crosspiece 45c of the H has secured thereto a small bar magnet 59 arranged parallel to the frame plates i4, 15 the ends of which magnet are embraced by the double cranked ends 60 of a member which affords with the magnet a closed magnetic circuit in either of two positions of the magnet. These two positions correspond to the clutch-engaging and disengaging movements of the clutch operating fingers 45a. A rivet 61 extends through the middle of the bar magnet and its projecting end nearer the front frame plate 14 has therein a hole which is engaged by one end 62a of a safety-pin type spring 62. The coil of this spring is mounted on a cross piece 63 between the two said posts 58 and the other end 62b of the spring extends through a slot in the rear frame plate 15 and through a hole in a sliding re-set bar 64, which is retained (FIGURE 4) close to the rear of the rear frame plate 15 and guided for linear movement by two grooved rivets 65 mounted on that plate and engaging slots in the bar 64. A bent-up portion On the opposite end of the re-set bar is engaged by a roller 65 mounted on the end of one arm 67a of a bell-crank lever 67. The arm 67a extends through an aperture in the rear frame plate, the lever being pivoted to the front frame plate, and the other arm 67!) of the lever can be operated by depression of a r e-setting button 68 slidably mounted in the frame plates at right-angles thereto. A return spring for the le-set bar is provided by a second safety-pin type spring 69 mounted on a fixed post 6% (FlGURE 2) one end of the spring being braced against a peg 7t fixed to the rear frame plate and the other end against a bent up lug 640 on the bar. Thus, on depression of the press-button 63 the reset bar 64 moves to increase the tension of the safety-pin type spring 62 to such an extent that the bar magnet 53 is eventually snapped away from its first limiting position to its second limiting position, these positions being defined by the embracing double-cranked ends 60 of the aforesaid memher, and the movement causes the clutch operating fingers 45a to disengage the toothed clutch member 43 from the ratchet wheel 33. Also, a projection 64b on the re-set bar 64 is arranged to cause movement of a lever 71 (FIGURES 2 and 6) which is pivoted to a pivot pin 72 about one end and which has a pair of spaced lugs 71a, 71b on its free end, so that one or other of the lugs engages the aforesaid cam 57. The cam has symmetrical constant-velocity contours and the pressure of the lug causes rotation of the cam and the associated pinion 55 until the cam is symmetrically disposed relative to the lugs 71a, 71b and both lugs engage the shoulders 57a of the cam. The pinion 55 meshes with the toothed clutch member 43 is previously described and thus causes rotation of that member and consequently of the first pointer It At the equilibrium position of the cam 57 relative to the lugs 71a, 71b the first pointer 10 is arranged to be opposite the zero mark on the corresponding scale.

A mechanism is provided to ensure that the clutch 42 is disengaged before the lugs engage the cam 57 and also to ensure that the lugs move on to the cam with a snap action. The mechanism comprises two bell crank levers (FIGURE 6) which work in conjunction with the lever 71. The first bell crank lever 73 is pivoted about the same pivot pin 72, as the lever 71 and an upstanding peg 74 on the lever 71 projects through a comparatively large. aperture 75 in the overlying arm of the bell-crank lever 73 so as to permit relative lost motion. The other arm of this bell-crank lever is engaged by a first safetypin type spring 76 encircling the pivot pin 72, which spring causes the bell-crank lever to engage the peg 74 on the lever 71 in the sense of urging the lever 71 towards its inoperative position. A second safety pin type spring 77 encircles the pivot pin 72 below bell crank lever 73 one end thereof engaging a groove in the said peg 74 and the other end engaging a peg 73a on the arm of the bell crank lever 73, and acts in the sense of urging the lever 71 into engagement with the cam 57 but is prevented -by the engagement of the peg 74 in the aperture 75 in the bell crank lever. Movement of the lever 71 in this direction is limited by a lug 710 on the lever which engages a fixed stop 78 on the rear frame plate 15. In moving towards the inoperative position the lug 71c slides along a cam surface 79:: formed on one arm of the second, 79, of the two bell-crank levers, which is pivoted about the fixed pin 70, and drops into a slot 79b at the rearward end of the cam surface. The other arm of the second bell crank lever 79 extends across the line of action of the re-set bar 64 and is arranged to be engaged by the upstanding pin 64b on that bar. The pin 64b projects through a slot in the rear frame plate 15 and is arranged to contact also that arm of the first bellcrank lever 73 which overlies the lever 71. The pin 64b is arranged to contact the second bell-crank lever '7 9 only after the reset bar 64 has been moved far enough to ensure that the clutch 42 is disengaged. in operation the pin 64b first engages the arm of the first bell-crank lever '73 and in doing so increases the tension of the spring 77. The lost motion between the peg 74 and the aperture 75 permits the first bell-crank lever '73 to move without also moving the lever 71 and the bell-crank lever 73 thus removes the holding influence of the first spring '76 (which acts in the sense of holding the lever 71 in its inoperative position). The lever 71 is prevented from moving at this stage by the engagement of the upstanding lug 710 in the slot 7% on the second bell-crank lever 79. Further movement of the re-set bar 64- and pin 64b however causes the pin 64b to engage the arm of the second bellcrank lever 79 and to rotate the bell-crank lever 79 so that the lug 71c is released and the lever 71 snaps into engagement with the cam 57. When the press-button '68 is released the pin 64b moves back and the lever 71 is returned to its inoperative position due to the engagement of the pin 74 in the aperture 75 of the bell-crank lever 73 under the action of spring 76.

There is also provided means for ensuring in the event of the indicator being shaken about that a movement capable of causing the registration of a unit on the scale is not imparted to the pawl and ratchet transmission. Such means comprises a balanced lever 80 which is pivoted about its centre between the frame plates and adjacent the rear plate 15, and the two ends of which are forked. Weights 84 are secured to the lever near its ends. One forked end having prongs 80b is disposed adjacent the pin 28 secured to the oscillatory balanced lever 27 such that under normal conditions the oscillatory movement of the pin 28 causes it to move into and out of the gap between the prongs 80b. When the indicator is shaken, however, the resultant swinging movement of the forked end tends to bring the broad end of one or other of the prongs 80!: across the path of the pin 28 and thus to prevent the oscillatory movement having an amplitude big enough to actuate the pawl and ratchet wheel mechanism. The prongs 80c of the other forked end of the lever 80 lie on both sides of an adjustable post 81 to which is secured one end of a tension spring 82, the other end of the spring being attached to an offset peg 83 on the forked lever 80 so as to bias that lever to the given position. The adjustable post 81 is eccentrically mounted on a screw and thus provides a measure of adjustment of the position of the prongs 80b of the first-mentioned forked end relative to pin 28.

While there have been described above what are presently believed to be the preferred forms of the invention, variations thereof will be obvious to those skilled in the art and all such changes and variations which fall within the spirit of the invention are intended to be covered by the generic terms in the appended claims, which are variably worded to that end.

We claim:

1. A totalizing mechanism comprising a frame, an input element mounted on said frame, a continuously-registering totalizing indicator permanently connected to the input element to be driven thereby, a second indicator, a clutch for coupling the second indicator to the input element in driving relation, resetting means comprising a resetting member which is movable between an inoperative position and a position in which it is operative to reset the second indicator to a datum position, snap action means for actuating abrupt engagement and abrupt disengagement of the clutch and a manually-operable member for actuating both the snap action means and the resetting member, said member being connected to actuate snap action disengagement of the clutch before actuating movement of the resetting member into its operative position, and to actuate snap action re-engagement of the 6 clutch after the resetting member has moved to its inoperative position.

2. A totalizing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, comprising second snap action means connected between the manually-operable member and the resetting member for moving the resetting member into its operative position abruptly.

3. A totalizing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clutch comprises a rotary disc element, a shaft arranged coaxially with the disc element and having eccentrically mounted thereon an axially-extending, substantially pointed finger, and means for moving the finger into and out of frictional engagement with the disc element.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said snap action means comprises means mounted on the frame and affording a magnetic circuit formed with a gap, a bridge member movable between two extreme positions in each of which it bridges the gap to complete the magnetic circuit, the circuit being broken when the bridge member is intermediate said positions, which bridge member is operatively connected to the clutch to actuate engagement of the clutch when the bridge member moves from one of said positions to the other and to actuate disengagement of the clutch when the bridge member moves back to said one position, and spring means connected to the manually operable means and said bridge member to transmit actuating movements to said bridge member.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bridge member is a magnet.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bridge member is of bar form, and wherein said means affording the magnetic circuit is provided by a member having ends between which is the said gap, said ends being forked and extending respectively round the ends of the bridge member, and the bridge member being movable transversely to its own length between the forks.

7. A totalizing mechanism comprising a frame, an input element mounted on the frame, a continuously-re istering totalizing indicator permanently connected to the input element to be driven thereby, a second indicator, a clutch for coupling the second indicator to the input element in driving relation, resetting means comprising a cam permanently coupled to the second indicator to be driven therewith and a reseting member which is movable between an inoperative position and an operative position in which it engages the cam to reset the second indicator to a datum position, snap action means for actuating abrupt engagement and abrupt disengagement of the clutch, and a manually-operable member for actuating both the snap action means and the resetting member, said member being operable to actuate snap action disengagement of the clutch before actuating movement of the resetting member into its operative position, and to actuate snap action re-engagement of the clutch after the resetting member has moved to its inoperative position.

8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7, comprising a first spindle to which the second indicator is fixed and a parallel spindle whereon the cam is fixed, and meshing gears drivingly mounted on the respective spindles, and wherein the input element is mounted on said first spindle and arranged to drive that spindle through the clutch.

9.A mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein the gear on said first spindle is slidable axially along the spindle and is provided with a pointed projection on its face nearer said input element, and wherein a friction surface is provided on the adjacent face of said input element adjacent the projection which projection is engageable with, and disengageable from said friction surface by sliding the gear along the spindle in the appropriate direction, thereby to provide said clutch.

10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein said snap action means comprises means mounted on the frame and affording a magnetic circuit formed with a gap, a bridge member movable between two extreme positions in each of which it bridges the gap to complete the magneitc circuit, the circuit being broken when the bridge member is intermediate said positions, which bridge member is operatively connected to the clutch toactuate engagement of the clutch when the bridge member moves from one of said positions to the other and to actuate disengagement of the clutch when the bridge member moves back to said one position, and spring means connected to the manually-operable means and said bridge member to transmit actuating movements to said bridge member, and wherein there is provided a fork arm having a forked end, and the slidable gear having a boss with a peripheral groove which is engaged by the forked end of the fork, the other end of the forked arm being secured to the bridge member, so that movement of the bridge member in one direction actuates disengagement of the clutch and in the other direction actuates engagement of the clutch.

11. A telephone call charge meter comprising a reciprocatory impulse-receiving element constructed to move in one direction when an impulse is received, a spring for returning said element after the impulse has been received, an input element connected to the impulse-receiving element and constructed to be driven only during the springoperated return movement of the latter, a frame carrying said input element, a continuously-registering totalizing indicator permanently connected to said input element to be driven thereby, a second indicator, a clutch for coupling the second indicator to the input element in driving relation, resetting means comprising a resetting member which is movable between an inoperative position and a position in which it is operative to reset the second indicator to a datum position, snap action means for actuating abrupt engagement and abrupt disengagement of the clutch, and a manually-operable member for actuating both the snap action means and the resetting member, said member being operable to actuate snap action disengagement of the clutch before actuating'movement of the resetting member into its operative position, and to actuate snap action reengagement of the clutch after the resetting member has moved to its inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,006 Howden Nov. 26, 1918 2,219,636 Schwartz Oct. 29, 1940 2,531,038 Hamill Nov. 21, 1950 2,563,668 Abel Aug. 7, 1951 2,721,703 Manke Oct. 25, 1955 

7. A TOTALIZING MECHANISM COMPRISING A FRAME, AN INPUT ELEMENT MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, A CONTINUOUSLY-REGISTERING TOTALIZING INDICATOR PERMANENTLY CONNECTED TO THE INPUT ELEMENT TO BE DRIVEN THEREBY, A SECOND INDICATOR, AA CLUTCH FOR COUPLING THE SECOND INDICATOR TO THE INPUT ELEMENT IN DRIVING RELATION, RESETTING MEANS COMPRISING A CAM PERMANENTLY COUPLED TO THE SECOND INDICATOR TO BE DRIVEN THEREWITH AND A RESETTING MEMBER WHICH IS MOVABLE BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH IT ENGAGES THE CAM TO RESET THE SECOND INDICATOR TO A DATUM POSITION, SNAP ACTION MEANS FOR ACTUATING ABRUPT ENGAGEMENT AND ABRUPT DISENGAGEMENT OF 